Hatch cover assembly



Oct. 7, 1958 E. M. GREER 2,355,038

HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY Filed May 16, 1955 s snee as-shct 1 l n l I l i INVENTOR I Edward/M Green ATTOR N EYS Get. 7, 1958 E. M. GREER 2,855,038

INVENTOR aflujbgaka r ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1958 E. M. GREER 2,855,038

HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY Filed May 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Shcet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY Edward M. Greer, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to G. M. E. Corporation, a corporation of New York Application May 16, 1955, Serial No. 508,563

2 Claims. (Cl. 160188) This invention relates to the art of batch covers and more particularly to the means for actuating such covers.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide actuating means for hatch covers that is dependable in operation and has few parts that may readily be mounted in a relatively compact space, that does not require conversion of longitudinal motion to rotary motion to pivot the hatch covers from closed to open position and has a minimum number of motion transmittal points that are subject to wear, thereby requiring a minimum of maintenance.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view of one embodiment of the hatch cover,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view with parts broken away taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the hatch cover,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view with parts broken away of the hatch cover shown in Fig. 3,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 1 of other embodiments of the hatch cover.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 11 refers to the deck of a ship in which there is a substantially rectangular hatchway 12. Rising from the deck 11 around the hatchway 12 is a substantially rectangular coaming 13 which serves to support the hatch covers in the manner to be described.

Extending longitudinally of the coaming 13 on each side thereof are elongated flanges 14 which also define tracks. Although the flanges 14 may be mounted in any suitable manner, in the illustrative embodiment shown they are aflixed to the side walls of the coaming 13 and extend laterally outward therefrom aligned with the upper edge of the coaming.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hatchway is designed to be closed by a hatch cover which comprises a pair of substantially rectangular panels A and B. Although the panels may be made in any suitable manner, as illnstratively shown, each has a top wall 16, end walls 17 and side walls 19 and 21 extending transversely across the coaming 13, the walls 21 being positioned inwardly of the associated longitudinal edges 22 of panels A and B.

The panels A and B are of suflicient length as to extend transversely across the hatchway with the lower edges of their end walls 17 resting on the flanges 14 on opposed sides of the coaming. The width of the panels is such that in the closed position shown, the lower edges 23 of their side walls 19 will rest on lateral flanges 24, 25 at each end of the hatchway and also aligned with upper edge of the coaming.

Patented Oct. 7, 1958 The side wall 19 of panel A is desirably connected near its lower edge 23 by hinges 26 to flange 24. Aflixed to each of the end walls 17 of panel B adjacent its side wall 19 is an arm 27 which extends beyond said wall 19 and mounts a roller 28 at its free end which rides on the associated flange 14.

To move the hatch covers from the closed position shown in Fig. l to the open position shown in dot and dash lines, a hydraulic motor M is provided which may be of the type shown in Patent No. 1,974,775, dated September 25, 1934. The motor M has a casing 31 which is affixed as by welding at 32 to the lower edge 33 of wall 21 of panel A so that the shaft S of the motor, which desirably protrudes beyond both ends of the casing, extends parallel to said wall 21. Affixed at one end to each of the protruding ends of shaft S is an arm 34, the free end of which is affixed as by welding as at 35 to the lowed edge 33 of wall 21 of panel B.

In the operation of the unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, fluid under pressure is applied to port 36, for example, of motor M so that torque is applied by shaft S to attempt to rotate arms 34 in a clockwise direction. As the shaft S is connected by arms 34 to panel B, by reason of the weight of such panel, torque will also be applied to the casing 31 to attempt to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction. As the panels are restrained from downward movement by reason of the hinge connections 26 to flange 24 and the rollers 28 which ride on flanges 14, such combined torque will create an upward component of force which will pivot the panel A in a counterclockwise direction about its hinge 26, and the panel B in a clockwise direction about its rollers 28 which will ride along the tracks 14 to the open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

To close the hatch covers, fluid is applied to the port 37 so that torque is applied to shaft S to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction. This will cause the panel B to pivot in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the axis of motor M, and as the weight of panel B will retain rollers 28 thereof on the associated flanges 14, the panels A and B will move to the closed position shown.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the side walls 21 of panels A and B are positioned further inwardly of the edges 22 than in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Hydraulic motors M and M are aflixed as by welding to the outer surface of each of the walls 21, each of the shafts S of said motors mounting a pinion 41. The pinions 41 mesh with a gear 42 rotatably mounted at the end of a stud shaft 43 which extends through the arms of a yoke 44 at the end of an arm 45 aflixed as by welding at its other end as at 45' to the lower end of wall 21 of panel A. A second arm 46 is aflixed at one end as by welding as at 47 to the lower end of wall 21 of panel B, the free end of arm 46 being positioned between the arms of yoke 44 and having an opening through which the stud shaft 43 extends.

In the operation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, fluid under pressure is applied to the ports 48, for example, of each of the motors M and M to effect rotation of their shafts S and the pinions 41 thereon in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction respectively. As the result of the rotation of the pinions in opposed directions, an upward component of force will be applied to the gear 42 thereby causing the panels A and B to pivot in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction respectively about their hinge 26 and rollers 28.

To close the panels it is merely necessary to apply fluid under pressure to the ports 49 of the motors M and M to effect rotation of their shafts S and pinions thereon in the reverse direction. As a result, a downward component of force will be exerted against the gear 42 3 to cause the panels to move to the closed position shown in full lines.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the panels are substantially identical to those shown in Fig. 3. A hydraulic motor M is affixed to the wall 21 of panel A so that its shaft S extends at right angles to the top wall thereof and a second hydraulic motor M is afiixed to the wall 21 of panel B so that its shaft S" extends parallel to the top wall 16 thereof.

Aflixed to the ends of each of the shafts S are worms 51 and 52 respectively which mesh with a worm gear 53 mounted on a stud shaft 54 which extends through the arms of a yoke 44 at one end of an arm 45 identical to the arm 45 of Figs. 3 and 4 and affixed as by welding at its other end to the lower end of wall 21 of panel A. A second arm 46 identical to arm 46 of Fig. 4 is afiixcd at one end as by welding to the lower end of wall 21 of panel B, the free end of arm 46 being positioned between the arms of yoke 44 and having an opening through which the stud shaft 54 extends.

The operation of the unit shown in Fig. is substantially identical to the operation of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, that is, fluid under pressure is applied to the motors M and M to rotate the shafts S" thereof in such direction that the worms 51 and 52 will tend to drive the worm gear 53 in opposite directions thereby causing an upward component of force that will elfect movement of the panels to open position.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the hydraulic motor M is affixed to the wall 21 of panel A and the shaft S of said motor carries a pinion 56 which meshes with a gear segment 57 affixed to the wall 21 of' panel B and extending at right angles therefrom. The gear segment 57 has a stud shaft 58 which rotatably mounts one end of an arm 59, the other end of said arm being atfixed as by welding as at 61 to the lower edge of wall 21 of panel A.

In the operation of the unit shown in Fig. 6, when the pinion is rotated in a counterclockwise direction it will tend to urge the gear segment 57 in a clockwise direction. However, as such gear segment is afiixed to panel B, an upward component of force will be created which will rotate the panel A in a counterclockwise direction about its hinge 26 and the panel B in a clockwise direction about its rollers 28 thereby efiecting opening of said cover.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, a hydraulic motor M is afiixed to a wall 63 adjacent the edge 64 of panel A. The motor M has a shaft S to which is aflixed an elongated arm 65 which extends through an opening 66 in wall 67 of panel B. The edge 68 of panel B has a depending flange 69 which carries a rigid abutment member 71 at its lower edge and the wall 67 also mounts an abutment member 72, the rod 65 extending between said abutment members.

The panels A and B are hinged together as at 73 at the adjacent ends of a pair of complementary arms 74 and 75 affixed at their other end as at 76 to lateral flanges 77 carried by walls 63, 67.

In the operation of the unit shown in Fig. 7, when fluid under pressure is applied to the hydraulic motor M to rotate the shaft S thereof in a clockwise direction, as the panel B is restrained from movement by reason of the fact that it rests on the coaming 13, the resultant torque will provide an upward component of force which will pivot panels A and B in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction respectively to lift the panels toward open position. As this occurs, the rod 65 will slide from 4 the opening 66 in wall 69 until it reaches the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7.

To close the panel shown in Fig. 7, it is merely necessary to rotate the shaft S of motor M in the opposite direction, i. e., in a counterclockwise direction. This will cause the panel B to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about its hinge 73 and by reason of the weight of such panel, the rollers thereof (not shown) will be retained on the associated track and the two panels will move to closed position.

With the constructions above described, there is no need for the complicated space consuming linkage for converting longitudinal motion from a hydraulic jack, for example, into rotary motion necessary for pivoting the hatch covers from closed position and by reason of the elimination of such linkage the number of motion transmittal points is reduced to a minimum and the equipment may be operated for long periods with a minimum of maintenance.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Equipment for controlling access to a hatchway, comprising a pair of panels adapted to lie in substantially a horizontal plane over the hatchway when in closed position with the adjacent inner edges of said panels in juxtaposition, the outer edge of at least one of said panels being free to move in a horizontal plane, a hydraulic motor aflixed to one of said panels adjacent its inner edge, said motor having a shaft extending parallel to said inner edge, said panels being pivotally connected adjacent their inner edges, an elongated driving member atfixed at one end to said shaft extending at right angles therefrom and affixed at its other end to said other panel adjacent its inner edge, the shaft of said motor defining the pivotal connection between said panels, whereby upon rotation of the shaft of said hydraulic motor an upward component of force will be provided with respect to said pivotal connection to move the panels toward each other to open position with respect to said hatchway.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a track is provided on each side of said hatchway and the panel whose outer edge is free to move in a horizontal plane mounts a roller at each of its ends adjacent said outer edge, said rollers riding on an associated track and the outer edge of the other of said panels is hingedly mounted with respect to the hatchway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (1st addition to No. 971,979) 

